Metal Theft -- Solved By Implementing Hi-Tech Banking Technology

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raleigh Metal Recycling has implemented a set of new technologies to aid law enforcement in solving copper and other metal theft. Successfully used in the banking industry, these new technologies will greatly reduce metal theft.

"After discussions with City and County law enforcement, we knew we had to help," said Gregory Brown, CEO of Raleigh Metal Recycling. "We studied various technologies used in many industries and reviewed new technologies being used in Detroit, Michigan where we have another company.
We learned that cash withdrawn from a cash draw is not traceable and with universal access to computers, check fraud has become a huge crime. From this analysis, we made the decision to invest in a comprehensive solution used in today's banking industry." At the heart of the solution are NCR bank ATMs
that take and store digital photos of scrap sellers collecting their money. Additional photos of the seller, the material sold, and an electronic scan of the seller's driver's license are then electronically linked to the ATM photos. One electronic file links all data about the seller to the metal sold.
A police officer recently said of this technology: "The guys love coming here. Raleigh Metal Recycling has everything they need to make their case." A County Sheriff's detective said: "With the ATM photo, a person cannot deny they received money for the metal." The ATM creates a paper, photo, and electronic trail, which are helping put an end to metal theft.

With copper prices below their all-time highs, thefts are declining, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (www.nicb.org). However, theft remains an unacceptable problem throughout the U.S. "We are determined to do whatever we can to solve and reduce the frequency of these crimes. Scrap metal remains a critical component of America's energy policy due to the enormous energy savings when manufacturing new metal from recycled metal vs. manufacturing new metal from mined material. Recycling grows the economy efficiently while creating jobs, but this must not be at the expense of theft," said Brown.

"Raleigh Metal Recycling is the largest recycling company in Raleigh, N.C., buying recyclables from industrial companies and the public. This application of banking technology using ATMs and cameras is one of our investments to help reduce crime in the community."